9 Best Things to Do in Salem This Halloween

This blog post is all about the best things to do in Salem, Massachusetts during Halloween.

I’ve been to Salem, Massachusetts twice now. But neither time has been in the month of October which I feel is a must when visiting the witchy city.

This does mean that I have an excuse to go back a third time in the future, and that it must be during the month of October.

Growing up, one of my favourite movies to watch was Hocus Pocus. In fact, I still make a tradition of watching it every Halloween even in my twenties.

And so, it was always a dream of mine to visit Salem and see where the movie was filmed and also to learn about the Salem Witch Trials.

This is a list of the best things to do in Salem, MA this Halloween.

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Table of Contents

This blog post is all about the best things to do in Salem.

How to Get to Salem from Boston: A Perfect Day Trip

If you’re visiting New England in October, taking a day trip from Boston to Salem is one of the best seasonal experiences you can have.

Salem is just about 16 miles north of Boston, making it the perfect quick getaway for a spooky, history-filled Halloween adventure.

There are many best things to do in Salem, but whether you’re into haunted houses, witch trials history, or just want to see the town transform into a full-on Halloween festival, it’s easy to spend a day (or even a weekend) soaking it all in.

Why Salem Makes a Great Day Trip from Boston

Salem is small, walkable, and absolutely bursting with atmosphere in October.

You don’t need a car to explore, and most of the best things to do in Salem like the Salem Witch Museum, Witch House, and Old Burying Point Cemetery, are within a short stroll of each other.

During Halloween season, the town hosts Haunted Happenings, a month-long celebration with parades, ghost tours, street performers, and pop-up markets.

Because of its compact size and close proximity to Boston, it’s easy to head up in the morning, enjoy the festive chaos all day, and return to the city by night.

RELATED Best Things to Do in Salem blog post to read: The Best Weekend Travel Guide to Boston, Massachusetts

How to Get to Salem from Boston by Train

The easiest and most stress-free way to get from Boston to Salem is by train.

Hop on the MBTA Commuter Rail from North Station and take the Newburyport/Rockport Line. Salem is just a 30-minute ride away.

Trains run frequently, and you can buy your ticket using the MBTA mTicket app or at the station before you board.

Once you arrive at Salem Station, it’s about a 10-minute walk into the heart of downtown, where all the best things to do in Salem await you.

How to Get to Salem from Boston by Car

If you prefer to drive, it’s roughly a 40-minute journey (though expect traffic on busy October weekends).

There’s a parking garage right near the station and plenty of paid parking lots scattered around downtown.

But taking the train is usually the best option to avoid the crowds and road closures that come with Salem’s Halloween festivities.

The Best Things to Do in Salem, Massachusetts

Below are the best things to do in Salem. No matter if you’re visiting Salem at Halloween or any other time of the year, these are the best activities.

You’ll find a lot of witchy attractions in this list of the best things to do in Salem (as should be expected), but a few unique and lesser known activities to suit families, couples and solo travellers.

1. Salem Witch Museum

This was one of the first things we did when we visited Salem the first time around. It’s one of the most popular museums in Salem to learn about the Salem witch trials.

They have a room inside that acts through what happened in a visual and sensual way which I found really insightful and well put together.

And they also have Judy Garland’s red slippers that she wore filming the Wizard of Oz which is pretty cool.

If you want to learn everything you need to know about Salem, I’d definitely recommend making this the first stop on your tour of the city as it’s one of the best things to do in Salem.

2. Salem Witch Village

This is the main area of the city where you’ll find the shops and boutiques along a high street of sorts.

Paved with red bricks, it definitely makes the place very picturesque and I can imagine it looking especially beautiful in the autumn with the red and orange leaves matching the brickwork.

There are many stores in the village selling witchy items, Salem merchandise and even some bookstores.

I love browsing in these stores to see what I can find and when it comes to witchery, you’ll definitely find some crazy things!

This is one of the best things to in Salem if you love to shop!

3. Hocus Pocus Filming Locations

Hocus Pocus was filmed in different locations around Salem. This makes the city a fun place to visit, especially if you’re a fan of the movie.

Allison’s house (Rope Mansions) can be found quite easily, along with the Old Town Hall (where they held the parents Halloween party) and the school and park where Max is on his bike at the beginning of the film getting his number returned to him by Allison.

You can join this Hocus Pocus Movie Guided Walking Tour to make sure you see all the filming locations and to make planning your trip easier.

When we visited Salem for the second time, we had a car which allowed us to visit the Pioneer Village (where the opening scenes and Sanderson house was filmed) as well as Max and Dani’s house which sits a little further outside the centre of the city.

Touring the Hocus Pocus filming locations is one of the best free things to do in Salem if you have a car and are a huge fan of the movie (like me!).

I put together a Salem YouTube video showing the locations and where to find them which you can find here, along with other sights in Salem to see if you’d like to tour it virtually through this vlog:

4. The Witch House

Located next to Ropes Mansion (Allison’s house from Hocus Pocus) is the Witch House.

It stands out quite strongly on this main road into the centre of the city and looks like the kind of house I would live in myself.

A dark grey colour with little windows and light, you can enter via the back door to find a very small gift shop with memorabilia you can purchase about Salem.

The house also offers tours of the space to see what kind of place a ‘witch’ lived in back in the 1600s, and is one of the best things to do in Salem with kids.

5. Bewitched Statue

Another witchy TV show that you may have heard of (besides Sabrina the Teenage Witch – who’s cat was called Salem!) is Bewitched.

Personally I don’t remember the TV show as it was before my time, but I do remember the movie version with Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman.

Part of the original TV show was also filmed in Salem and so they have a Bewitched Statue to honour this.

However, the statue doesn’t come without controversy as it was covered with red paint in 2022 from protestors who said the show made light of the witch trials that happened in 1692.

6. The House of the Seven Gables

A few streets away from the main city centre, you’ll find the House of the Seven Gables. Similarly to the Witch House, it also has a dark grey/black exterior and serves as a museum.

We visited here on our most recent trip to Salem, driving to the house and finding that it looked out onto the sea. Something that you don’t ever think of when imagining Salem.

The house is a national historic landmark and you may have heard of the book of the same name, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1851.

Known as one of America’s most beloved historic homes, it boasts an amazing view of the harbour and you can also take a tour of the house.

7. Take a Walking Tour of Salem

This is something that I still have on my list to do when I eventually visit Salem during the month of Halloween.

Although this will be the most busy and expensive time to visit Salem, I can sense that it will be worth it just to get the full spooky feeling for the city during that time of year.

There are a few walking tours on offer in Salem, but the most popular seem to be History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour and the Salem Night Ghost Tour which I think would be my top two picks for sure!

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Salem that are on the witchy side, then look no further!

8. Old Burying Point Cemetery

You might wonder why I’ve added a cemetery to the list of things to do, but in the Old Burying Point Cemetery, you’ll find the graves of those involved in the Salem Witch Trials including prolific Judge John Hathorne who was one of the most influential and hated judges of the trials.

It’s one of the oldest burying grounds in Massachusetts, opened in 1637 before the Witch Trials began.

This is one of the best things to do in Salem if you’re interested in the history of the witch trials.

9. Witch Dungeon Museum

In the Salem Witch Dungeon, you can experience a live reenactment of the Salem Witch Trials.

With continuous live shows running from 10am to 5pm every day, you can see an award-winning reenactment of the trial of beggar-woman Sarah Good.

You’ll also experience a guided tour of the dungeon, including a recreated village and Gallows Hill.

This is one of the more unique best things to do in Salem as you actually witness reenactments of famous moments in Salem’s history.

The Best Things to Do in Salem at Halloween

There’s no better place to celebrate spooky season than Salem, Massachusetts, and after experiencing it for yourself, you’ll see why.

From haunted houses and witch museums to candlelit ghost tours and historic walking trails, there are endless best things to do in Salem at Halloween that make this New England town one of the most magical October destinations in the world.

What makes it even better? It’s an easy day trip from Boston, so you can see all the best things to do in Salem without needing to stay overnight. Though if you do, you’ll get to experience the town after dark when it truly comes alive (and I’ve got a full list of the best Salem hotels to choose from in this blog post).

Stroll along cobblestone streets lined with pumpkins, visit the Salem Witch Museum, and enjoy some of the incredible local Salem Halloween events that take place every year throughout October.

Whether you’re visiting for history, ghost stories, or simply to soak in the festive energy, you’ll quickly discover that the best things to do in Salem go far beyond Halloween.

So pack your costume, hop on the train from Boston, and get ready to experience the best things to do in Salem for yourself. It’s a Halloween adventure you’ll never forget.

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By Orlagh Shanks

Orlagh Shanks is the Editor of Orlagh Claire, an award-winning travel and lifestyle blog.
After working in the PR & Influencer Marketing industry, Orlagh quit her job to travel Asia for 12 months and moved to Sydney, Australia where she is now a full-time travel blogger and content creator sharing travel tips and recommendations for all 30 of the countries she’s visited so far.

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This blog post is all about the best things to do in Salem.

How to Get to Salem from Boston: A Perfect Day Trip